Based on the past week, this race went better than I could ever have expected it to! Based on the 16 weeks before, this race was a huge disappointment. Starting at the beginning: 16 weeks averaging 38.8 miles per week! Finishing at the end: the FLU. I had hoped to qualify for the Boston marathon this race, putting in 14.8 more miles per week than last year (I crossed the 1000 mile mark for 2009 at the 8 mile mark!) but ended up ill for the week and a half before the race and a couple days after. I thought I was better the Friday before the race, but apparently I was wrong...The day went something like this: 2 hours of sleep was apparently all I needed so I got up and watched an episode of The Mentalist. Then I took a quick shower (running without a shower is like playing in mud instead of dirt - filthy) and had oatmeal and chia. My dad drove my mom (they spent the night), my brother, and me to the bus pick up. The ride was nice enough, but the line to the POPs were very long - apparently 5 minutes isn't enough time to take care of business? We ended up giving our bags of clothes to some honest people, hoping they would get it on the last bus - they came through for us!
We made it to the starting pack just after the wheelchairs took off. Trav and I said our good-byes and good luck to Mom then started working our way to the front. Adam Arnell (a co-worker from a previous job who also went to NDJH and CHS) was about where we wanted to be. I chatted with him, eventually about the marathon and found he was shooting for 3.5 hours. I said, "You got 3:23 at Ogden, why 3:30?" He seemed surprised that I knew his time and said something about not training as much as he had hoped. Then he asked about my goal, which is to qualify for Boston. To which he responded, "Is this easier than Ogden?" I think Ogden is easier since the downhill portion comes right when you need it (though I've run TOU faster both times than the fastest I've run Ogden). "But you ran that in 3:39, were you not ready for it?" That's not it, I just enjoyed Ogden, negative splitting it by 14 minutes. Before I could explain that if I had done my best, I don't think I would have gotten below 3:29, the gun went off! So, to me, it seemed as if I said that the only reason he beat me was because I wasn't trying. Though I am a bit cocky, I don't think I could have beaten him but...
I tried to start the race close to the front so that I wouldn't have to waste energy weaving through people, but at Ogden, I started I start really far back to prevent me from starting too fast... Like Bear Lake, I was trying to pace myself by my heart rate, but what happened the week or to before this race killed that plan.
The first mile was a little fast and my heart rate a little high, but not too bad.
The second mile was decent on time, but again, my HR was high.
Mile 3 was good, but I remember my legs feeling dead - which I attributed to not running much in the past week. But my HR was 10 too high! A co-worker, who I beat in the TOU half marathon by over 2 minutes, passed me here. We had very similar race plans, finishing between 3:05 and 3:10.
Mile 4 was good, still pushing through sluggish legs. HR still too high - I'm realizing that this will probably be this way the whole race unless I slow down...
Mile 5 I kept my HR steady, but apparently slowed down. Travis passed me, followed shortly after by Adam. At a GU at the end of this mile and took gatorade at the aid station
Mile 6 I kept Adam and Travis in sight, even though I used the POP - which had a fresh bottle of hand sanitizer that I had to unscrew the top of to get the pump to work. You might think that this cost me time - but it didn't. I think it was a 25 second stop, but no biggy.
Mile 7 aid station was a Clif shot block (electrolytes and jell-o?) and Gatorade. HR still high as well as the time.
Mile 8 was more of the same...
Mile 9 aid station was an electrolyte gel cap and Gatorade. I could still see Travis and Adam at this point, but...
Mile 10 they are out of sight and the mile marker was off.
Mile 11 aid station was GU and Gatorade, as well as water over my head. It was also long, making up for the short 10th mile.
Mile 12 had a bit of a tailwind.
Mile 13 was the same - nice tailwind, but I could tell I was going to cramp up if I didn't get some more electrolytes, so instead of the shot block, I was going to take the gel cap - but they had fallen out of my pocket :( so shot block it was.
Mile 14 was good for my time, I crossed the half marathon at 1:37:00, did the math and knew I had to run 7:10 miles from here on out. "The Climb" from a movie that I had recently watched with my family came on my iPod (if you know the movie, you know why I didn't include the title). The song is about seeing a dream, almost in your grasp, but knowing you just won't make it this time. There will always be an obstacle in the way, an uphill battle, sometimes you have to lose. It's not about how fast you get there or what is waiting on the other side, it's about the climb. I don't think any tears came out of my eyes, but I knew that I didn't have it in me to meet my goal this time. It was just time for the uphill battle.
Mile 15 was also good for my time, but my HR was about 11 miles ahead of target... Gatorade and shot block, water over my head.
Mile 16 was the last good mile, HR high. POP stop, same story as before...
Mile 17 (16.9) was where the first cramp hit, in my right ham. Bad sign - but you have to push through or give in, and even though my HR is high, I still have a chance at a PR (Personal Record). GU and Gatorade, water over my head
Mile 18 is where the Maverick is that I first saw Jeri Dawn and my girls last year - I was looking forward to that. My dad popped out in the lane and took my picture - I did my best to look good.
Apparently Jeri Dawn and Dean (friend who saved my race) saw me before I saw my dad with the camera. They thought that I looked terrible...Mile 19 is the 1st of two uphill miles. I was a little slower than I had hoped, but not too disappointing. At this aid station, I took Gatorade and a shot block.
Mile 20 was a little slow as well, but was a turning point - I started cramping more. It could have been really bad, but Dean and his daughter came by on their bikes and asked if I needed anything. I told him I lost my electrolyte gel caps he gave me. He told me to run on and he would get me more. Just before the peak of the hill, he caught back up, gave me three pills and some water and asked if I needed anything else. I asked, "When can I take more?" The answer was a half hour - so mile 24!?!
Mile 21 was where people started passing me last year and I couldn't do anything about it. It was a little better this year, a few passed me, but a passed a few too. Gatorade and water...
Mile 22 was where I caved in to the tightness in my calves - last year. This year, it is where I about caved in to the pure lack of energy, but just as I considered resting, at about 21.3, I saw a familiar red shirt - Adam! I decided that I had to beat him. He was about 50 yards ahead and moving a little faster than I wanted to go, but I stuck with him. Gatorade and water...
Mile 23 was rough. At 22.3 I had some serious cramping and Adam started pulling away. Just then (like within 5 seconds) Dean rode up with electrolytes! Adam moved to about 200 yards out, but I worked on reeling him in. More GU and Gatorade.
Mile 24 was a good one - I reeled Adam to within 25 yards and Jeri Dawn ran me down the hill from River Heights into Logan! More Gatorade and water over my head. Jeri Dawn said Travis was 4 minutes ahead! Good for him!
Mile 25, just after the aid station, a few people passed by and I thought, "Now is the time - maybe Adam won't notice me if I'm with them." Yeah right. I looked back at the corner - he was 20 yards back. Then the hill - small any other day of the year, but nearly insurmountable this day - I was sure he would pass me. More Gatorade.
Mile 26 was more will power keeping me moving. At the first corner, I thought I could see Adam, a block later I wasn't sure. By center street as I passed people and other passed me, I couldn't pick out Adam behind me - just 4.5 blocks left - including the downhill!
Mile 26.2 - no sprint :(
As Adam came through, he said, "That's what I get for trying to stay up with you in the beginning!" I think he was talking to Travis - who PR'd by 30 minutes at 3:21:06. Adam was 3:24:47 and my time was 3:24:04 - a PR, but not a BQ.
Last year chocolate milk hit the spot (I had 2 large Nesquiks!) In fact it was so good, I e-mailed the company to thank them for supporting races! This year, a few swallows of the chocolate milk made me sick. The salty wheat bread chunks that tasted like doughnuts at the half also made me sick. I wonder if that has anything to do with the last week? Here is how that went:
Tuesday or Wednesday of the week before last week, I started getting the flu - I distinguish the flu from a cold by my hunger level: when I get the flu, I get hungry an hour after eating. Figuring this means my body needs more fuel, I started taking more food to work. By Friday, I had a mild sore throat, worse on Saturday. Sunday I didn't feel so good, skipped church, staying home with a sick daughter, but felt OK by mid-afternoon until I ate some Taco Soup - that did me in an hour and a half later. I took it easy Monday, though a bowl of cereal before bed was too much for my stomach. I felt alright Tuesday (in fact I played basketball and it went just like it normally does). Wednesday I decided it was time to run again - sort of. I took my 7-year old for a 2.5 mile run walk, averaging 13 minute miles. By the time we got home, an hour and a half after dinner (Tacos) I was ill. Thursday was fine. Friday, when I woke up, I finally felt good! I ran 2 miles and suddenly had a little hope for the race - which is probably why I couldn't sleep that night, 2 hours. I thought that I was better. A friend had invited us over for dinner after the marathon. He is half Mexican and makes amazing - you guessed it - tacos. An hour and a half after dinner I realized that I was still not over the flu...
Travis put in around 25 the weeks he ran, but had quite a few weeks with no runs... His training this year wasn't nearly as good as last year. He runs on guts, and I run on training. I beat him in the half by 2 minutes (1:25:31 to 1:27:30). We both figured I would lose him and probably beat him again. Then I got sick... I guess that's all part of the experience. I am pleased with the results, considering the past week. I am disappointed with the results considering the 16 before... Congrats to Travis for destroying his PR!
The following shows my planned time and heart rate followed by the reality of my time and heart rate.
Plan Reality
Mile Min Sec HR Mile Min Sec HR
1 7 35 153 1 7 3.6 161
2 7 10 163 2 7 21.2 170
3 7 10 163 3 7 13.1 173
4 7 5 163 4 7 19.5 172
5 7 5 166 5 7 32.9 173
6 7 0 167 6 7 37.9 172
7 6 55 168 7 7 32.8 173
8 6 50 169 8 7 37.0 172
9 6 45 170 9 7 41.5 171
10 6 40 171 10 6 44.9 174
11 6 40 171 11 8 0.5 174
12 6 40 171 12 7 13.6 175
13 6 40 172 13 7 20.5 175
13.1 0 40 172 13.1 0 43.0 176
14 6 0 173 14 6 20.4 176
15 7 10 173 15 7 6.0 181
16 7 10 178 16 7 23.0 181
17 7 15 178 17 7 54.1 179
18 7 20 180 18 7 24.9 180
19 7 30 181 19 7 58.9 182
20 7 35 182 20 8 23.0 180
21 7 20 182 21 8 0.4 179
22 7 55 182 22 8 59.9 180
23 7 55 183 23 8 56.0 176
24 7 35 185 24 9 6.6 174
25 8 15 184 25 8 46.2 176
26 8 15 187 26 8 53.7 177
26.2 1 36 187 26.2 1 49.8 180
189 46 174.1 204 4.9 175.4
